288 CHESTNUT 



Propagation can be carried on by sprout growth or by 

 seeds. Above all others of our valuable timber trees, Chest- 

 nut can best be depended upon to reproduce itself from 

 sprouts. Other species will quite frequently throw up 

 sprouts from the stump when the tree is cut, but none so 

 uniformly or vigorously. If the stump is cut low, the sprouts 

 will throw out roots and, in a measure, develop an inde- 

 pendent root system. Old trees will proportionally send up 

 more sprouts than young ones, but they will not be as vigor- 

 ous. It is true that sprouts seldom attain sawlog size, but 

 they will reach pole and tie dimensions if the root system 

 has not been exhausted by frequent fires or cuttings. While 

 we have had but little experience in repeated harvesting 

 of sprout growth, observation shows that the root system 

 of such growth is enfeebled by successive removal of the 

 sprouts, and that eventually seed-planting must be resorted 

 to if the forest is to be maintained in perpetual vigor and 

 productiveness. It must be patent to every one that all 

 superfluous sprouts should be removed in order to allow a 

 vigorous growth in the few that are allowed to remain. 

 The number left must be determined by conditions. If the 

 original stand was dense, few should be permitted to grow, 

 but there must be enough left to compel a tall and straight 

 growth and develop a satisfactory forest floor. 



Propagation from seed is not at all difficult if rightly 

 conducted. The tree is a prolific seed-bearer, and, more- 

 over, bears seed when quite young, frequently at the 

 age of ten years, and there is seldom any difficulty in 

 securing a supply. It blossoms late in June or early in 

 July, and the seed is ripe about the first of October, hence 

 seed-bearing is not likely to be interfered with by frosts. 

 The prickly envelope, commonly called burr, inclosing the 

 seed, is too well known to demand a description. The nuts 

 should be gathered as soon as they fall out of the burrs, 

 and be at once planted where the trees are to grow in the 

 forest, or stored away where they will neither dry nor 

 become heated or mouldy. There are but few valuable 





